Scotland have been handed a major Euro 2024 injury sweat after Nathan Patterson was forced off for Everton against Chelsea.
The right-back, 22, had to be replaced in stoppage time of the heavy 6-0 loss at Stamford Bridge.
Patterson - who has regularly featured for Scotland under Steve Clarke - had come on as a substitute at half time but would need to be replaced before full time.
The defender pulled up after attempting to track back with Ben Chilwell with Sean Dyche warning of a "serious" hamstring problem.
The cruel injury blow is a serious worry for the player and the Scotland national team ahead of the Euros this summer.
No timeline for a diagnosis or rehab period was set in the aftermath of the match, with Dyche offering a "wait and see" verdict on the situation.
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Patterson was just one of three injuries suffered by Everton in the nightmare loss with Jarrad Branthwaite and Seamus Coleman also forced off.
Dyche told club media after the match: “It was a perfect storm tonight. Every mistake seemed to get punished, every goal seemed to go in. I think they had 14 efforts on goal, we know how many we have had, they scored six - and we got three injuries.
“That isn’t a good mix, it happens now and again in your career and lifetime in football. But that is as bad as a mix I have experienced, with the injuries.
“Jarrad, we hope, is minor, but we have to wait and see. Shay (Coleman) has pulled his groin, we don't know yet and Patto’s looks a bit more serious. A hamstring injury, we are going to have to wait and see - let it settle tomorrow.”
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